A/N: Since I'm American, I'm going to use American cooking terms/measurements, even though that's probably not what Max and Dan would use. Also, Dan's girlfriend is fictional (it's just easier that way :D )
Max trepidatiously knocked on Dan's door at 7pm sharp. He brought a bottle of wine since he thought that was the polite thing to do when asked over for dinner, but now he wondered if he should have perhaps brought some beer instead? Does Dan even like wine? Before he could worry about this any further, the door swung open and his teammate greated him.
"I wasn't sure you'd come," Dan flashed his usual good-natured smile.
"Yes, I'm starving. And I brought wine." He held the bottle out for his host, and Dan accepted the bottle.
"Thanks mate," he put the bottle on the table. "Dinner's actually going to be at 7:30, sorry."
"Oh, I thought you wanted me here at 7?" Max blushed, hoping he hadn't misheard Dan earlier.
"I did, because after seeing all the empty take-out boxes hiding around your flat, I thought maybe you'd like to learn how to make some actual food." Dan shrugged, still smiling at his confused teammate.
"Oh, I see," Max laughed and shook his head. "You're probably right, though."
"Cool, Chloe's in the kitchen, why don't you see what she needs help with, while I get the grill started?" Dan instructed, and Max hesitated before obediently heading to the kitchen. Max had met Chloe several times, and always got the impression that she was somehow the female version of Dan - yet slightly more mature. They both had that intrinsic need to be friendly and nice, yet knew how to have fun. Yet physically, with her pale skin and straight hair, she couldn't be more different than Dan.
"Max! I've been waiting for you," she smiled at him as she put her light brown/dirty blonde hair up in a ponytail to keep it out of her face while they cooked. She slipped on an apron to keep her outfit clean, and handed on to Max. "Want one?"
Max didn't know what to say, so he smiled and nodded politely as he took the apron. "Thanks."
"We're going to learn something basic, okay? Rice, chicken, and asparagus," Chloe explained, and Max again nodded. "Does that sound good? Do you like those foods?"
"Yes, I love asparagus." Max thought he liked asparagus, right?
"Okay, to start off, wash your hands," Chloe instructed, and while he did, she continued going over their dinner. "We'll get the rice started by boiling a cup and a half of water."
"Okay, I'll grab the water for you," Max thought that sounded easy enough and took the measuring cup she handed him, and poured the water into the pot she indicated.
"Great, just turn the burner on, and I'll grab the rice." Chloe rummaged through a cupboard until she found the rice, and turned back to see Max still messing with the controls on the stove. "Let me do it for you, so no one gets hurt," she smiled, but realized Max might need more help than she thought, as she turned the stove on. "Okay, while I rinse the rice, maybe you can get the asparagus ready. I've already washed them, so we just need to remove the stems. The trick is to grab either end, and bend it until it breaks; it should naturally break off at the point where the stem is soft enough to eat."
Max blinked at few times as he took that all in and watched her do it a few times. "Okay, seems easy enough," he said and got to it. Breaking the asparagus stems was actually kind of fun, Max thought.
Dan stuck his head around the door to check on them. "How's it going?" He smiled, and kissed Chloe on the cheek. "Is he behaving?"
"I don't think we have the next Gordon Ramsay here, but he's a doll," she laughed, and Max blushed. "When would you like the chicken?"
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Domesticating Max
FanfictionMax spent too much time at the track as a kid, and has no idea how to take care of himself on his own. When Max gets moved up to Red Bull, his new teammate Daniel Ricciardo and his girlfriend take it upon themselves to teach hi m how to 'adult' and...
